Abusing retracts

[RJMurph]

So I have been with this new wash for a short while and I'm trying to figure out exactly what the issue is and why they retract there wraps as much as they do. Obviously there is not a strait answer to this problem and the only way to find out is to experiment.

However they retract the wraps on any vehicle with a side mounted antenna, like what would be on nearly all trucks and SUVs. And top retract when shark fin antenna above 6 inches. A bit to extensive IMO.

The tunnel layout is not sufficient enough to clean the tops and sides without these major components. It shows especially on white vehicles.

Equipment is all sonny's electricly driven, and my rough estimate would be wraps are running at 125 RPM, and I do not know about top. I will be looking further into this tomorrow. Also chain runs at 120 CPH.

They have the new sonny's cut neoglide with the folded rows down the whole brush. So each row of cloth is esencally doubled. This is different from what I have seen at the other washes I do maintenance for.

My ideas are that there could be too much brush marital causing the brush to pull on antennas and mirrors. But I don't know if the RPMS are too high. I have seen plenty of washes running very well with 130 RPMS.

I would like to see what you guys think!!

 

[robert roman]

“….why they retract there wraps as much as they do.”

Absentee owners often resort to this when they get tired of paying for excessive damage claims due to incompetent staff or management or problem solving equipment solutions that didn’t work.

Consequently, the owner of this wash might not be interested in another solution.

“…..layout is not sufficient enough to clean…..without these major components. It shows especially on white vehicles.”

This may be abundantly clear to a technician that is conscientious whereas the owner is more concerned with being able to load cars as close as possible.

 

[jfmoran]

We run a Sonnys Tunnel,135ft conveyor with double big man wraps with neoglide. We retract on trailer hitches and spare tires (like jeep wranglers) and the occasional power antenna that won't go down. We rarely if ever, retract on a whip antenna unless we see that it is severely bent or loose at the base. We do break an occasional whip antenna, but for the volume we do, its a very small number. Our disclaimer sign instructs customers to remove them, many do. We run a chain speed of 156, wraps are running 90-95 rpms. In my opinion, those wraps are running way too fast, which will make them much more aggressive. Sonnys has a chart in their parts catalog for wrap speed, without looking I'm betting that the wrap speed is too fast for that chain speed.

 

[RJMurph]

@Robert Roman
Yes, pinned that one right on the head. Your absolutly correct.

 

[RJMurph]

@jfmorgan Awesome, thank you!!

 

[SErep]

If you are properly lubricating the brushes, you shouldn't have any issues. If you don't lubricate them and you have closed cell foam as the media, you'll tear all kinds of things up.
Proper lubrication is the key, You'll occasionally get an antenna, which is more a design flaw of the auto manufacturer than the car wash equipment manufacturer, but that's the nature of the beast.
You are spinning your wraps too fast, please read the manual and slow them down to the appropriate speed that corresponds with conveyor speed.

 

[Earl Weiss]

Per Sonny's Catalog # Volume X 120CPH should be 95RPM Of note is that different RPM is not spec'd for different material.

 

[RJMurph]

Pardon my ignorance.....

I dont know where I pulled 130 from, they are operating at around 100 RPM

 

[patkelly1336]

Sorry for late response. We only retract brushes for roof mounted refrigerator units, roof racks, ladder racks, bike racks, and cargo carriers. Usually we stop the wash, have them drive through and remove them from queue as we have posted we don't wash these vehicles, but on busy days its easier to retract the rockers, wraps, and van brushes and let soap and water clean the car still. We will retract our exit top brush on trucks and jeeps with lightbars and push bars. We use a Pickup mode or retract the enter top brush on jeeps with tires on the back with the tiny 3rd brake light that breaks off easily.